SECONDNEXUS
percolately
georgetakei
comicsands
George's Reads
In an interview with Axios for HBO, President Donald Trump stated he plans to remove the right of citizenship by birthright in the United States. That right became part of the Constitution through the 14th Amendment.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments after the Civil War. It essentially granted citizenship to all who had been slaves. It stated:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
Trump believes he can issue an executive order to eliminate birthright citizenship. As justification for doing so, Trump stated:
"Now how ridiculous, we're the only country in the world where a person comes in has a baby and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits."
"It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. And it has to end."
The President than added:
"It's in the process. It'll happen ... with an executive order."
Watch the interview excerpt here.
But is the President right? Is the United States the only country in the world to offer birthright citizenship?
Fox News decided the fact check Trump's claim. It turned out, the USA is very much not the only country in the world to offer birthright citizenship.
Fox News shared their results on Twitter, stating:
"Countries with Birthright Citizenship:→ At least 35 countries offer automatic, unconditional citizenship to children born within their borders.
→ Canada and the US are examples of two countries with large, advanced economies that grant automatic birthright citizenship."
Countries with Birthright Citizenship: → At least 35 countries offer automatic, unconditional citizenship to child… https://t.co/L75QayPsRK— Fox News Research (@Fox News Research) 1540996500.0
Some people were amazed Fox News had a research department to check facts.
@FoxNewsResearch @BeauWillimon Fox has a research group?— Marky Mark Twain (@Marky Mark Twain) 1541011106.0
@FoxNewsResearch Holy #$#+ Fox News has a research division?!— Beat the Bucknuts (@Beat the Bucknuts) 1541001756.0
@FoxNewsResearch Wow! Truth without bias or rhetoric— Jodie Robinett (@Jodie Robinett) 1540998695.0
@jodie_robinett @FoxNewsResearch I was amazed to learn Fox had a news research dept. wish Fox News reporters would actually use it.— Rita Cary (@Rita Cary) 1540999593.0
@BigMikeHeCooks @RitaCary @jodie_robinett @FoxNewsResearch @seanhannity @FoxNews So true!! They are merely highly paid actors.— tgikcg (@tgikcg) 1541002280.0
@FoxNewsResearch Now if Fox reporters would actually look at the factual information put out by their own research… https://t.co/qiRxttDbuz— Rita Cary (@Rita Cary) 1540999486.0
@FoxNewsResearch @BeauWillimon This is a start, Fox, but you've done a lot of damage with your "news" coverage. You… https://t.co/0oobT3WMC7— DontLookAtAngie (@DontLookAtAngie) 1541010990.0
While some followers of Fox News discounted the research findings.
@FoxNewsResearch Theres over 190 recognized countries in the world. That stat means absolutely nothing. Its not eve… https://t.co/6xLibUdZbj— JH Goodman (@JH Goodman) 1541000591.0
@FoxNewsResearch So, 165 nations don’t!— Ben Estaville (@Ben Estaville) 1541007169.0
But were quickly reminded of the point of a fact check.
@sirmastergoodmn @FoxNewsResearch The stat means trump lied when he said us was only one who offers it.— Animal of politics (@Animal of politics) 1541000790.0
@FoxNewsResearch Queue the #MAGA calling this #FakeNews b/c it shows Dear Leader lies— No name (@No name) 1541001636.0
@kkboutabucket @FoxNewsResearch Somebody should tell him.— Versh (@Versh) 1541006672.0
Others brought up Trump's other claim about an executive order overriding the Constitution.
@FoxNewsResearch More interesting is the fact that the Republican President believes the POTUS can nullify parts of… https://t.co/tpQUoPjCtj— cincinnatus (@cincinnatus) 1541002504.0
Fox News Research offered an answer for that as well.
Constitutional Amendment -Requires •2/3 majority in House, Senate •Ratified by 3/4 of states OR •Constitutional… https://t.co/CVJV3qW4bw— Fox News Research (@Fox News Research) 1540931072.0
Whether Trump decides to go ahead with his attempt to override the Constitution with an executive order remains to be seen.